Bottles with attached handles and a method of forming the same

ABSTRACT

A plastic bottle with an attachable handle for lifting, carrying and pouring. The handle generally is L-shaped. One leg of the handle coacts with and is affixed to the neck of the bottle and the other leg coacts with the sidewall of the bottle. When the handle is attached, the one leg generally is horizontal and can be snapped on or otherwise affixed to the neck of the bottle, and the other leg generally is vertical and can be in engagement with or attached to the sidewall of the bottle by interlocking, welding, bonding, adhesive, banding or other means. Also, when attached the handle is positioned substantially within the breadth of the bottle. 
     In forming the bottle and handle of the present invention, means can be provided for properly aligning the handle and bottle to facilitate coaction and attachment therebetween. 
     In a preferred embodiment the present invention provides a large biaxially oriented pressurized bottle with a lifting, carrying and pouring attachable handle without impairing the desired shape and properties of the bottle.

This application is a continuation-in-part application of myapplication, Ser. No. 028,886, filed Apr. 10, 1979, which is acontinuation application of my application, Ser. No. 877,603, filed Feb.14, 1978, now abandoned.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to bottles having attached handles and to amethod of forming and assembling such bottles and handles, andparticularly to biaxially oriented plastic bottles having attachedcarrying, lifting and pouring handles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Presently, large plastic bottles (e.g., 32 ounce, 64 ounce, 128 ounce,etc.) with handles for lifting, carrying and pouring generally are madeby the extrusion blow molding process.

Initially an extruder forms large diameter preforms, hollow tubes knownas parisons, and the parisons are positioned within blow molds havingthe desired final shape of the bottles. In each blow mold a portion ofthe parison is pinched off to form a handle shape and the pinchedparison is blown to its final bottle dimensions with a hollow handle andan interconnecting web. Thereafter, the web is removed to provide ahandle for gripping, lifting, carrying, and pouring.

In forming such hollow handles relatively high plastic temperatures andsubstantial parison thicknesses are required to provide satisfactoryfusion in the pinched and blown parison. Also, the parison must have alarge enough diameter so that it will essentially traverse the breadthof the bottle when pinched and blown.

The procedures for forming these bottles are well known. See ModernPlastics Encyclopedia, Vol. 54, No. 10A, 1977-1978, McGraw-HillPublishing Co. (e.g., section on "Blow Molding" at page 230, et seq.;also see section on "Injection Blow Molding" at page 232 et seq.).

Depending on the design, the pinched, blown hollow handle can provideease in carrying, lifting and pouring, or simply ease in carrying andlifting. In the instance of a pouring handle, moreover, the need to gripthe side walls of the container is eliminated. This can result inlighter weight bottles at lower costs. These and other features make thepouring handle very popular for large plastic bottles made from a widevariety of thermoplastic materials including polyolefins (polyethyleneand polypropylene) and polyvinyl chloride.

However, these methods and the resulting bottles with hollow handles dohave drawbacks. For example, decreasing the amount of plastic, used toform the bottles, known as "light weighting", is limited in many casesby the need for adequate parison thickness to provide the requisitefusion along the extensive pinched off areas.

Another limitation is that the required large diameter parison producesbottles having wide variations in wall thicknesses, especially at andnear the sidewall at the bottom juncture and at the shoulder area--themost vulnerable areas to drop impact and denting forces. This resultsbecause the pinch off distributes the parison into thick areas at eachend of the pinch off and in very thin areas in the blown bottle at rightangles to it.

Further, hollow handles generally are precluded from use in refillablecontainers, such as may be found in dairy uses. Cleaning and rinsing theinterior of such handles is virtually impossible.

Still another limitation is that the relatively high fusion temperaturesrequired to form the pinched off hollow handles cannot be used to formhandles in the newer stretch blow molding process for forming plasticbottles. This process differs from the hollow handle blow moldingprocess in that the parison is first stretched and then blown while attemperatures which are much lower than the fusion temperatures,typically within the 100° F. range above T_(g) (the temperature at whichthe plastic material passes from the glass phase to the rubber phase).This procedure, which is known as stretch blow molding, or orientationblow molding, is not only replacing earlier blow molding techniques, butis opening up new markets. Advantages of the new procedures are relatedto the biaxial orientation of the polymeric material. While the parisonis at a temperature insufficient to permit free plastic flow it isexpanded biaxially to conform with the blow mold. The temperature ofoperation typically within the 100° F. range immediately above T_(g) issuch that expansion introduces true strain into the material, and thisstrain is translated into a definable polymer orientation which resultsin a number of attributes.

Alignment of polymer molecules results in increased tensile strength, aswell as increased clarity, increased impact strength, and reduced creep.A vast market for carbonated soft drink containers is a direct result ofsignificantly improved gas barrier properties.

Suitable container materials for stretch-blow molding are substitutedand unsubstituted thermoplastic hydrocarbons. Commonly used materials atthis time include acrylonitrile, polyvinyl chloride, polyethyleneterepthalate, and polypropylene. This newer procedure also is known. SeeModern Plastics Encyclopedia, Vol. 54, No. 10A, 1977-1978, McGraw-HillPublishing Co. (e.g., section on "Stretch-Blow Molding" at page 233 etseq.).

The problem with producing plastic containers with handles using thestretch blow processes results from the nature of the process andcondition of the plastic at the time it is biaxially oriented. It is notpossible to produce handles by the aforementioned parison pinch-offtechnique because the plastic temperature required for suitablemolecular orientation is much too low to permit adequate fusion of theplastic. To initially form the handle at elevated temperatures and thento cool to biorientation temperatures before stretching and blowingwould yield handles, and substantial other unoriented portions of thecontainer, with inferior containment and other properties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a new andunique attachable handle for bottles and preferably plastic bottlesformed by the previously described processes. The handle of theinvention is generally L-shaped and is positioned to lie substantiallywithin the breadth of the bottle. One leg of the handle coacts with andis affixed to the neck of the bottle and the other leg coacts with themiddle or upper portion of the bottle. When attached, the one leg isgenerally horizontal and can be snapped or or otherwise affixed to theneck of the bottle. At the same time, the other leg is generallyvertical. In one embodiment the generally vertical leg is attached tothe side wall of the bottle by interlocking, bonding, welding, adhesiveor other means. In another embodiment the handle is under tension sothat the generally vertical leg is maintained in engagement with thesidewall of the bottle during gripping, lifting, carrying and pouring.

In a preferred embodiment the handle can include means which allowflexing for attachment to the bottle and to accommodate dimensionalchanges when the portion of the bottle adjacent the handle is underinternal pressure. Illustratively the flexing means can include slots orgrooves extending across the generally horizontal leg of the handle.

Further, the bottle and handle can be formed with means, such as anengaging notch and tooth, for properly aligning the handle on thebottle. For assembly the bottle and the generally horizontal leg of thehandle are brought together and rotated relative to one another untilthe means engage. The aligned handle and bottle then can be attached byany one of the several means of the invention.

In all embodiments of the invention the attached handle facilitateslifting and carrying of, and pouring from, the bottle.

In addition, the attachable handles of present invention are made frommaterials which provide desired handle properties, such as stiffness andwhich minimize cost, including polystyrene, high density polyethylene,polypropylene, polyethyleneterepthalate and lower cost, reclaimed lotsof such materials. They can be made from the same or dissimilarmaterials than the bottles to which they are attached.

The present invention, moreover, maximizes potential for light-weightingof plastic bottles because its attachable handle obviates the need forpinch-offs, large diameter parisons, and extra thicknesses for gripping.

Also, the handle of the invention does not require any significantadditional space and can be filled, packaged and stored withoutrequiring extra handling. By lying substantially within the breadth ofthe bottle the handle is a space saver and can be filled, packaged,displayed and stored without difficulty.

ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The following is a detailed description together with accompanyingdrawings of illustrative embodiments of the invention. It is to beunderstood that the invention is capable of modification and variationapparent to those skilled in the art within the spirit and scope of theinvention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a biaxiallyoriented pressurized bottle and an attachable handle of the invention;

FIG. 2 is another side elevational view, in section, of the bottle andhandle with the handle attached to the bottle;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detailed view showing the interlocking meansbetween the vertical leg of the handle and the bottle;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the bottle and attached handle of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the vertical leg of the handle, takenalong lines 5--5, of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the bottle shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the horizontal leg of the handle, takenalong the lines 7--7, of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8A is a side elevational view, partly in section, of an embodimentof a bottle and an attachable tension handle of the invention;

FIG. 8B is another side elevational view of the bottle and handle ofFIG. 8A with the handle under tension and attached to the bottle;

FIG. 8C is a plan view of FIG. 8A;

FIG. 8D is a plan view of FIG. 8B;

FIG. 9A is a side elevational view, partly in section, of anotherembodiment of a bottle and attachable tension handle of the invention;

FIG. 9B is a side elevational view of the bottle and handle of FIG. 9Awith the handle under tension and attached to the bottle;

FIG. 9C is a plan view of the handle shown in FIG. 9A;

FIG. 10A is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a furtherembodiment of a bottle and attachable tension handle of the invention;

FIG. 10B is a side elevational view of the bottle and handle of FIG. 10Awith the handle under tension and attached to the bottle;

FIG. 10C is a plan view of the handle of FIG. 10A;

FIG. 11A is a side elevational view, partly in section, of still anotherembodiment of a bottle and attachable tension handle of the invention;

FIG. 11B is a side elevational view of the bottle and handle of FIG. 11Awith the handle under tension and attached to the bottle;

FIG. 11C is a plan view of the handle of FIG. 11A;

FIG. 12A is a side elevational view, partly in section, of anotherembodiment of a bottle and attachable tension handle of the invention;

FIG. 12B is a side elevational view of the bottle and handle of FIG. 12Awith the handle under tension and attached to the bottle;

FIG. 12C is a plan view of the bottle and handle of FIG. 12A;

FIG. 13A is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a bottle andattachable compression handle of the invention;

FIG. 13B is a side elevational view of the bottle and handle of FIG. 13Awith the handle under compression and attached to the bottle;

FIG. 13C is a plan view, partly in section, taken along the lines13C--13C of FIG. 13A with a further separation of the handle and bottle;

FIG. 14A is a side elevational view, in section, of another embodimentof the bottle and the attached handle with a different attachment meansand with a captive closure;

FIG. 14B is a plan view of FIG. 14A;

FIG. 14C is an enlarged detailed sectional view of the attaching meansbetween the vertical leg of the handle shown in FIG. 14A and the bottle;

FIG. 14D is a plan sectional view taken along the lines 14D--14D of FIG.14C;

FIG. 15A is an end elevational view of another embodiment of theattaching means of the invention between the vertical leg of the handleand the bottle;

FIG. 15B is a longitudinal sectional view, taken along the lines15B--15B, of FIG. 15A;

FIG. 15C is a plan sectional view, taken along the lines 15C--15C, ofFIG. 15B;

FIG. 16A is an end elevational view of another interlocking means of theinvention between the vertical leg of the handle and the bottle;

FIG. 16B is a sectional view, taken along the lines 16B--16B, of FIG.16A;

FIG. 16C is a sectional view, taken along the lines 16C--16C, of FIG.16B;

FIG. 17 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of an embodimentof the invention illustrating a bottle and an attachable handle, whereinthe handle is bonded to the bottle;

FIG. 18 is a side elevational view showing the bottle of FIG. 17 withthe handle bonded thereto;

FIG. 19 is an end view of the handle shown in FIG. 17;

FIG. 20 is a sectional view of the vertical leg of the handle, takenalong the lines 20--20, of FIG. 19;

FIG. 21A is an end elevational view of another embodiment of the bottleand attached handle of the present invention wherein the handle isbonded to the bottle;

FIG. 21B is a side elevational view, partly in section, of FIG. 21A;

FIG. 21C is an enlarged detailed view of the welded or bondedarrangement between the generally vertical leg of the handle and thebottle;

FIG. 22A is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a furtherembodiment of the invention prior to attachment of a handle with abreakaway closure;

FIG. 22B is a side elevational view of the assembled bottle, closure andhandle of FIG. 22A; and

FIG. 22C is a plan view of the handle and breakaway closure of FIG. 22A.

Referring first to FIGS. 1-7 of the drawings, there is shown a plasticbottle 10 which includes the attachable handle 12 of the presentinvention.

The bottle 10 is formed from biaxially orientable thermoplasticmaterials and is made by the stretch-blowing process to provide abiaxially oriented, pressurized plastic container having a highlyengineered and functional shape. This bottle 10 is well suited forcontaining carbonated beverages. As shown, the bottle 10 is generally ofa circular cross sectional shape and has a relatively narrow threadedneck finish 14 adapted to receive cap 15. Immediately below the threadedneck 14 is a neck ring 16 which is beveled inwardly and which includes anotch 18 for positioning and locking the handle 12. Depending from thering 16 is a shoulder 20 which connects the neck 14 to the body 22 ofthe bottle 10. In general, the bottle body 22 typically can be from 2 to5 times larger in breadth than the relatively narrow neck 14.

On one side of the bottle 10 extending from the neck 14 to the body 22is a recess 23 with a backwall 24 which, in cooperation with the handle12, facilitates gripping, lifting, carrying and pouring.

On the surface of the bottle 10 are locking means 25 which are inalignment with the notch 18 for positioning and locking the handle 12 tothe bottle 10 (see FIG. 6). In this embodiment the locking means 25 is alug formed as an integral part of the bottle 10 during thestretching-blowing process. In configuration the lug 25 is generallyV-shaped having one leg on the bottle surface which defines the base ofthe recess 24 and the other leg on the bottle surface which defines theadjacent sidewall of the body 22. Immediately below the lug 25 is a slot27 which, as hereinafter described, facilitates locking the handle 12 tothe bottle 10.

The handle 12 generally is L-shaped and is attachable to the upperportion of the bottle 10 in the area defined by the recess 24 and, whenattached, the handle 12 lies within the cross sectional dimension orbreadth of the bottle 10. The handle 12 includes, when in position to beattached, a substantially horizontal leg 26 and a substantially verticalleg 28 joined by an integral curved segment 30.

The horizontal leg 26 is shorter than the vertical leg 28 and isgenerally rectangular in cross section at its free end. The leg 26includes a bore 32 at its outer end which is larger in cross sectionthan the neck 14 and ring 16. Within the bore 32 is an annular shoulder34 which has a beveled curvature that complements the beveled curvatureof ring 16 to provide an interlocking snap fit. To facilitatepositioning and locking of the handle 12, a projection or tooth 36depends from the shoulder 34 and extends outwardly from the handle wallforming the bore 32 (see FIG. 7). The configuration of the projection 36is rectangular and is adapted to snugly fit within the notch 18.

The vertical leg 28 is semi-circular in cross section with thecurvilinear portion facing inwardly to the bottle 10 for ease ofgripping, lifting carrying and pouring. At its free or lower end 37, theleg 28 has an angular opening 38, and an outer projection 39 whichextends below the inner projection 40. The shape and breadth of theopening 38 is such that the lug 25 is adapted to fit snugly therein withthe upper or inner projection 40 abutting against the upper end of thelug 25 and with the lower or outer projection 39 abutting against thelower end of the lug 25 and snugly fitting within the slot 27 (see FIG.3).

In this embodiment the handle 12 also includes flexing means which, asshown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, are a pair of spaced grooves 42 that extendacross and partially through the horizontal leg 24. In use the grooves42 permit flexing of the handle 12 to facilitate attachment to thebottle 10 and to allow for flexing of the handle 12 and upper portion ofthe bottle 10 when it is subjected to internal pressure.

In assembling the handle 12 to the bottle 10, the handle 12 ispositioned so that the bore 32 of its horizontal leg 26 is positionedover the neck ring 16. The bottle 10 then can be rotated relative to thehandle 12 until the tooth 36 slides into the notch 18 whereupon theannular shoulder 34 is snap fitted onto the neck ring 16 by reason ofthe complementary beveled surfaces.

At the same time the vertical handle leg 28 has been aligned with thelug 25, and the leg 28 is snapped onto the lug 25 with its projections39 and 40 in engagement with the lug 25, and also with the projection 39in the slot 27.

Thus, this embodiment provides a large biaxially oriented pressurizedbottle 10 (32 ounce, 64 ounce, etc.) with an attachable handle 12 whichpermits lifting, carrying and pouring without impairing the desiredproperties or shape of the bottle 10.

In this and other embodiments of the invention, moreover, the handle 12is a space saver and the bottle can be filled, packaged, displayed andstored without difficulty. By essentially being within the breadth ofthe bottle 10, added space is minimized and ease of filling, packaging,displaying and storing are maximized.

Referring to the other embodiments of the invention which now will bedescribed, like reference numbers refer to like parts of the bottle andhandle that have already been described.

Specifically, with respect to FIGS. 8A-8D, there is shown a bottle 10 ofbiaxially oriented thermoplastic materials having a shape particularlyadapted to contain liquor (e.g., 64 ounce or 128 ounce).

In this embodiment the bottle 10 includes a plurality of depressions43a, 43b, 43c and 44 in the neck finish 14 and in the sidewall of thebottle 10. Depressions 43a and 43b are positioned immediately above theneck ring 16 and oppose one another along the longitudinal axis of thebottle 10, and depression 43c is positioned centrally therebetween andat the same radial level. Depression 44 is spaced below and in alignmentwith the central depression 43c in the base of the shoulder 20 andadjoining body 22.

The handle 12 includes a horizontal leg 26 having, at its free end,resilient, semicircular opposing, yoke-shaped arms 45. At the ends andbase of the yoke-shaped arms 45 are projections 46a, 46b and 46c.Opposing projections 46a and 46b face inwardly for locking engagement inthe depressions 43a and 43b, and projection 46c extends into the spacebetween the arms 45 for locking engagement in the depression 43c.

As shown in FIG. 8A, the generally vertical leg 28 of the handle 12normally is at about a 90° angle to the horizontal leg 26, and the end37 of leg 28 and the depression 44 have complementary shapes forengagement therebetween. To achieve this engagement the leg 28 isadapted to be flexed outwardly as the leg 26 is attached to the neck 14.This places the handle 12 under the required tension along its fulllength and maintains engagement between the leg end 37 and the bottle 10within the depression 44.

In assembling the handle 12, the resilient arms 45 are placed about theneck 14 and the bottle 10 and/or handle 12 is rotated. When the end 37of the handle leg 28 is in alignment with the sidewall depression 44,the projections 46a, 46b and 46c are in alignment with the neckdepressions 43a, 43b and 43c. The horizontal handle leg 26 is thenpushed inwardly while pressure is applied to the joining curved segment30 of the handle 12 to spread the handle legs 26 and 28 which forms anobtuse angle therebetween. This action locks the projections 46a, 46band 46c of the horizontal handle leg 26 in the depressions 43a, 43b and43c of the bottle neck 14 while developing sufficient tension in thefull length of the handle 12 to retain the leg end 37 firmly in thesidewall depression 44. When desired the sidewalls of depression 44 maybe undercut as shown in FIG. 8C to allow a gripping action on handle end37 for additional security of its engagement with the sidewall.Alternatively alignment of handle end 37 with recess 44 may beaccomplished by depending on the arrangement of projections 46a, 46b and46c with the neck depression 43a, 43b and 43c. With the handle 12 soattached it can be gripped for lifting, carrying and pouring from thebottle 10.

With respect to the next four embodiments (FIGS. 9A-9C, 10A-10C, 11A-11Cand 12A-12C) they illustrate additional interlocking means between thehorizontal leg 26 and the neck 14 for the tension handle 12 of theinvention.

In FIGS. 9A-9C the central projection 43c is spaced below the base ofthe arms 45 to define a slot 47 therebetween in which the neck ring 16is slidably engaged. Here, in pushing the horizontal leg 26 inwardly,the neck ring 16 is slidably engaged by the projection 46c and the baseof the arms 45 within the slot 47 while the opposing projections 46a and46b snap into the opposing depressions 43a and 43b. In this embodimentalignment of handle end 37 with recess 44 may be accomplished bysituating the engagement of projections 46a and 46b with neckdepressions 43a and 43b so that they are other than in 180° opposition,as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9C.

In FIGS. 10A-10C the opposing depressions 43a and 43b are spacedimmediately below the neck ring 16 for engagement by the projections 46aand 46b as previously described and the base of the neck ring 16provides the central downward thrust which places the handle 12 intension. Annular shoulder 16a is optional and provides additionalsecurity for the horizontal handle end 26 engagement with the bottleneck 14. The engagement of projections 46a and 46b are in other than180° opposition to provide an aligning means between handle leg 28 withshoulder recess 23.

FIGS. 11A-11C illustrate a snap fit locking means for the horizontal leg26 of the handle 12. In this instance the bore 32 is placed around theneck finish 14 and in contact with the neck ring 16. The bottle 10and/or handle 12 is then rotated to align handle end 37 with sidewalldepression 44, whereupon the annular shoulder 34 is snap fitted onto theneck ring 16 by reason of the complementary beveled surfaces using ring16a optionally to prevent further downward movement of bore 32 so thatengagement with ring 16 is securely maintained. To firmly hold the bore32 against the stresses imposed by the tension developed in handle 12upon attachment, the direction of the beveling is inverse to thatpreviously described (FIGS. 1-7). Accordingly, when the shoulder 34 issnapped below the neck ring 16 it engages the underside thereof. Whenassembled the tension imparted to the handle 12 constantly urges theshoulder 34 into locking engagement with the rings 16 and 16a.Optionally ring 16a may be replaced by the bottle shoulder designed andspaced to provide a similar restraint to bore 32.

FIGS. 12A-12C illustrates a twist locking engagement for the horizontalleg 26 and the neck 14. About the neck ring 16 and about the annularwall of the bore 32 of the leg 26 are cooperating interlocking lugs 47and 48. When the bore 32 is placed about the neck 14, the handle 12and/or bottle 10 can be rotated and the lugs 48 pass between and underlugs 47 with a downward thrust on the free end of the leg 26 resting onthe top 16a of the shoulder 20. Rotation may be continued until handleend 37 engages sidewall recess 44 preventing further rotation, therebylocking handle 12 in place. In another embodiment top 16a may bereplaced by a second, but continuous neck ring (such as shown in FIG.11A).

Further one of the lugs 48 of bore 32 and one of the spaces between lugs47 of the neck ring 16 may be of a greater radial dimension than theothers so that the desired engagement occurs only when vertical handleleg 28 is in alignment with recess 23. Thereafter the handle 12 can berotated until the vertical leg end 37 is engaged within recess 44.

Also, the lugs 48 of bore 32 and the lugs 47 of neck ring 16 may beangled to provide a wedge type locking action.

In this embodiment the recess 24 is concave in both the vertical andhorizontal planes for a greater resistance to columnar stresses and fora larger bottle capacity. In other words, the back wall 24 has a concaveshape over much of its length (the normally vertical direction of thebottle 10; see FIG. 12A) and a concave shape in cross section (thenormally horizontal direction across the bottle 10; see FIG. 12C). Todistribute the stresses over a broader area, the ends 21 of the concavecross sectional shape are rounded to form reverse curvilinear segmentswhich extend tangentially into the shoulder 20 and sidewall 22 of bottle10.

In the embodiments just described and illustrated (FIGS. 8A-8D through12A-12C) a tension handle 12 has been used for lifting, carrying andpouring.

Now, in FIGS. 13A-13C there is illustrated a compression handle 12 forthe same purpose. As shown in FIG. 13A the compression handle 12includes a leg 28 which, in the unassembled condition, forms an obtuseangle with the horizontal leg 26.

In assembling the compression handle 12, the downward projections 46aand 46b on the arms 45 are snapped onto locking engagement in thedownward depressions 43a and 43b of shoulder 16a immediately below thering 16, and the outwardly generally vertical depending leg 28 is movedinwardly toward the bottle 10 placing the handle 12 under compression.Continued inward movement will cause the leg end 37 to be moved over andsnapped onto the projection 25.

When dimensional tolerances and part rigidities of the horizontal handleand engagement is suitable, as shown in many of the embodiments of thisinvention, little or no compressive force is needed to maintain theengagement of leg end 37 with projection 25, or the compression forcemay be imposed mostly in vertical leg 28 and less in curved segment 30.

The compression handle 12 now is ready for gripping and for lifting,carrying and pouring from the bottle 10.

With respect to the next three embodiments of the invention (FIGS.14A-14D, 15A-15C and 16A-16C), they illustrate additional interlockingmeans between the vertical leg 28 of the handle 12 and the shoulder orsidewall of the bottle 10.

In FIGS. 14A-14D, there is illustrated a bottle 10 for fruit juiceswhich includes a notch and wedge interlocking means between the sidewallof the bottle 10 and the lower end 37 of the leg 28. In this instance,the lower end 37 has an undercut notch 50 while the side wall of thebottle provides a wedge 52 which fits snugly in the notch 50 to lock theleg 28 to the bottle (see FIG. 14D).

In this embodiment, moreover, a band or label 54 wrapped about thebottle 10 and over the leg 28 assists in locking the leg 28 to thebottle 10. (See FIG. 14D which for illustrative purposes includes aportion of the label or band.)

If desired the leg 28 can be attached to the bottle 10 by a band orlabel 54 alone which may contain plastic materials and which provide astructural member banded over both the leg 28 and bottle 10 and bondedto the bottle 10. Also the band 54 can be formed from specialty adhesivetapes and can be of finite length and breadth sufficient to provideattachment without circumventing the bottle 10.

In addition, the handle 12 of this embodiment, as can the otherembodiments of the invention, includes a captive closure or cap 15attached to the free end of the leg 26 by an integral plastic hinge 55.The hinge 55 allows the bottle to be opened without being concernedabout misplacing the cap 15. To close the bottle 10, the hinge 55 isflexed simply by gripping and placing the cap 15 on the neck finish 14.

In FIGS. 15A-15C there is illustrated another interlocking means for theleg 28 of the handle 12 and the sidewall of the bottle 10. Here, incontradistinction to interlocking means of FIGS. 14A-14D, the leg 28 isprovided with the male rather than the female member of the notch andwedge. The male wedge 52 is included on the lower end 37 of the handleleg 28 while the female notch or recess 50 is formed during blow moldingin the sidewall of the bottle 10 (see FIGS. 15A-15C).

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 16A-16C, another wedgeand notch interlocking arrangement is illustrated. Here the wedge 52 isagain on the lower end 37 of handle leg 28 and includes two projections56 which are received by correspondingly shaped notches or recesses 58in the sidewall of the bottle 10.

In each of these embodiments the interlocking means does not adverselyaffect the desirable properties of the bottle 10. For example, in eachembodiment the locking means on the leg 28, and for that matter thelocking means on the leg 26, do not penetrate the surface of the bottle10 or alter the condition of the plastic. In biaxially oriented bottlesparticularly this could be disastrous. Penetration could adverselyaffect the strength or impermeability provided by biaxial orientation aswell as bottle shape rendering the bottle 10 useless.

Turning now to the other embodiments of the invention illustrated in thedrawings (FIGS. 17-20 and 21A-21C), there are shown handles 12 attachedto bottles 10 by bonding techniques.

In FIGS. 17-20 there is shown a blow-molded bottle 10 with a continuousshoulder 20 and a handle 12 with its legs 26 and 28 bonded to neck 14and shoulder 20, respectively.

As illustrated the free end of the horizontal leg 26 includes a bore 32which is larger in cross section than ring 16. Within the bore 32 in anannular shoulder 34 which fits easily over and abuts ring 16 to which itis then bonded. The free or lower end 37 of the vertical leg 28 has arelatively thin member 60 positioned at an angle which is complementaryto the angle of the shoulder 20. When the horizontal leg 26 is properlypositioned the member 60 is in contact with the shoulder 20 ready forbonding thereto. An upper extension 61 to the vertical leg provides agreater gripping surface while permitting a higher attachment site 60for the vertical leg 28 thereby allowing the shoulder 20 to be raised.

Bonding procedures, including simple heat, ultrasonic vibration, or highfrequency electric or magnetic fields, are then used to produce heat inbore 32 and member 60 or at their interfaces with the neck ring 16 andthe shoulder 20, respectively, to bond the legs 26 and 28 thereto.

Alternatively, suitable bonding or adhesive agents can be appliedbetween the bore 32 and member 60 and the neck ring 16 and shoulder 20,and where necessary, such agents can be activated by suitable energysources.

Also, the horizontal leg 26 can be secured to the neck ring 16 at bore32 by spin welding.

In FIGS. 21A-21C the vertical leg 28 is bonded to the bottle 10 via athin integral wafer 62 which extends from the leg 28 in the form of afoot 60 at an angle that is complimentary to the angle of the shoulder20. The wafer 62 because it is thin will begin to melt and adhere veryquickly without impairing the shape or properties of the bottle 10.Also, bonding or adhesive agents already described can be used to attachthe wafer 62 to the bottle 10.

As in the other illustrative embodiments of the invention, the bondingmeans selected provides the requisite bonding without impairing theproperties or shape of the bottle 10. For example, where a bottle 10 isformed from a biaxially oriented thermoplastic material bonding means(e.g., uncontrolled heat or solvent action) which release the necessarymolecular strain for biaxial orientation are not used.

In FIGS. 22A-22C there is shown an integral tension handle 12 andclosure 15 with threaded interior portions, joined by an easily rupturedinterconnecting web 64 and a blow molded bottle 10 with two adjacentthreaded portions 66 and 68 designed to provide separate engagement forthe closure 15 and the handle 12.

The handle-closure (12,15) is placed upon the neck finish 14 of thebottle 10 and rotated to provide engagement. When the closure portion 15is fully engaged, the threaded handle portion 32 is not, so that furtherrotation will rupture the web 64 therebetween and the handle 12 willcontinue to turn until its horizontal leg 26 is engaged against theshoulder 70 and the vertical leg 28 is engaged within the sidewallrecess 44, to thereby position the handle 12 and prevent backoff of thethreaded portions 32 and 68.

With respect to the bottles and attachable handles of the presentinvention, they can be used to contain and pour a wide variety ofpourable products. These include:

beverages, such as carbonated drinks, fruit juices and drinks, liquor,beer, wine and milk;

foods, such as edible oils, pourable dressings, vinegar and syrups;

medicinal and health products, such as oral antiseptics;

toiletries and cosmetics, such as shampoo and hair care products;

household chemicals, such as general purpose and dishwashing detergentsand bleaches; and

auto and marine products, such as motor oil and antifreeze.

With respect to producing the bottles 10 of the invention, they can beformed by any of several molding techniques, including extrusionblow-molding and injection blow molding. However, stretch blow-moldingis preferred because of the desirable properties of biaxially orientedplastic bottles formed by this technique.

In the stretch blow-molding process biaxial orientation of the polymericmaterials only can occur over a range of temperature within which somepart of the stress applied during blowing produces strain in thepolymer. It has been indicated that this requirement is met in manypolymer materials if blowing is carried out within a finite temperaturerange above T_(g). For these purposes, T_(g) is assigned itsconventional meaning of the temperature representing the transition fromthe glass phase to the rubber phase produced upon heating of thepolymer. An acceptable range for biorientation--i.e., for stretch blowmolding in the usual case, does not exceed 100° F. above T_(g) foramorphous polymers. Crystalline polymers, such as polyprophylene, areprocessed at temperatures slightly below their crystalling meltingpoint, T_(c). To a significant extent, the degree of biorientation and,in consequence, the improvement in physical properties attendant uponthis parameter increases for a given degree of expansion as temperatureis decreased. A significant improvement in properties is generally foundto result in those procedures in which the average wall thickness isreduced by a factor of at least two, while the plastic is at atemperature within 100° F. or preferably 50° F. above T_(g). This isconsidered to be preferred from the standpoint of stretch blow molding,per se, and in similar fashion is considered to define a preferredembodiment in accordance with the invention.

With respect to producing the attachable handle 12 of the invention,they also can be formed by known techniques including injection,compression or transfer molding. In the preferred embodiment, however,the handle 12 is formed by injection molding.

As has been described, the handles 12 can be attached to the bottles 10by snap or interlocking means, or by bonding, welding, adhesive or stillother means.

In FIGS. 1-7, 8A-8D, 9A-9C, 10A-10C, 11A-11C, 12A-12C, 13A-13D, 14A-14D,15A-15C and 16A-16C various snap fit and interlocking means have beenillustrated.

Alternatively, the handles 12 can be attached to the bottles 10 by avariety of bonding techniques. (See FIGS. 17-20 and 21A-21C.) Thesebonding techniques include welding operations generally accomplished byfrictional heating, or by procedure in which contacting surfaces areplaced in relative movement. Vibration may be at sufficiently highfrequency and producing sufficient frictional heat to result inultrasonic welding. A variety of alternative heating means may utilizeexternal fields: magnetic, electric, or electromagnetic. As ordinarilypracticed, electromagnetic welding, induction welding, as well asradiation welding may make use of intrinsic properties of the plasticmaterial or may depend upon fillers which are designed to convert fieldenergy to thermal energy. Such fillers may take the form of magneticallyor electrically polar particles or may have larger absorptioncross-section for radiation.

An expeditious form of bonding may involve chemical modification of theplastic, for example, by cross-linking. This cross-linking or curingwhich may be induced by radiation of suitable quantum energy may resultfrom polymer cross-linking, for example, by inclusion of a difunctionalcuring medium--or for that matter, by any medium of greaterpolyfunctionality.

Local conductive heating is generally not preferred, particularly aspracticed in stretch blow molding, since excessive heat conductedthrough the stretched sidewall results in degradation of thoseproperties dependent upon biaxial orientation and release of orientationstress may result in collapse of the sidewall, possibly with itsrupture. However, the handle extremity shown in FIGS. 21A through 21Crepresents a valuable embodiment in accordance with the invention whichenables the use of local conductive heating. In this case, the handleextremity possesses a very thin section abutting the sidewall of thebottle. This section can be heated sufficiently to fuse itself to thesidewall without generating sufficient heat content to substantiallyeffect a deterioration of the thicker sidewall of the bottle.

In some instances, bonding of the handles 12 to the bottles 10 can beachieved through the use of adhesives of a hot melt type or such as canbe achieved with water-based, solvent-based or other adhesives whichcure at ambient conditions.

With respect to materials for forming the bottles, these include thosesatisfactory for blow-molding or those satisfactory for the preferredembodiments of stretch blow molding. Both contemplate polymericmaterials which at least during the blowing operation are thermoplastic.Compositionally, polymer (or plastic) material satisfactory for use arehydrocarbons or substituted hydrocarbons. Materials include the simpleunsubstituted homopolymers, polypropylene and polystyrene, substitutedpolymers, such as, acrylonitriles, and polyesters, such as polyethyleneterephthalate.

With respect to materials for forming the handles, these include thesame materials used for forming the bottles. Inasmuch as the handles areformed separately these materials can be dissimilar to those of thebottles and can be specifically selected to maximize the properties ofthe handles, such as resiliency, toughness and stiffness. For example,impact polystyrene handles would provide suitably high levels oftoughness, stiffness, close dimensional tolerances for optimumperformance during attachment to and use with a variety of bottles madefrom polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethyleneterephthalate, etc.

In addition, where desired these handles can be of a different colorthan the bottle. Also the handle can be formed from scrap or othermaterials which may not be suited for contact with the contents to becontained.

Furthermore, it is within the scope of this invention to select andcombine features of various embodiments. With respect to theillustrative embodiments, for example:

the threaded upper arm engagement (32 and 68) of FIGS. 22A-22C may becombined with the lower arm compression and engagement (25 and 37) ofFIGS. 13A-13C and the alignment means 18, 36 of FIGS. 1-7;

the snap fit engagement (16 and 34) may be combined with the integralclosure 15 and interconnecting web 64 of FIGS. 22A-22C;

the interlocking by engagement means (47,48) of FIGS. 12A-12C may becombined with the interlocking lower handle end engagement of FIGS. 1-7(25,37); or

the neck-yoke arm engagement of the upper handle arm (43a-c and 46a-c)of FIGS. 8A-8D may be combined with the bonding engagement (60,62) ofthe lower handle arm of FIGS. 21A-21C.

Moreover, while in the preferred embodiment the handle 12 is generallyL-shaped, it is within the scope of this invention to have a handle 12before attachment of another shape, e.g., straight, which can be bent orformed to the generally desired L-shape during attachment. Also thevertical leg 28 can include a lateral extension which is secured to theinterlocking means on the sidewall of the bottle 10. In this instancethe interlocking means, e.g., projection 25, can be located well withinthe recess 23.

With respect to terms herein, they have been used in their conventionalsense. For example, as described above, particularly useful embodimentsdepend upon extrusion or injection molding to produce a preform andstretch blow molding to produce the final bottle. These and other termsused in the description are briefly defined:

Plastic: a category of organic materials, generally thermoplastic,substituted or unsubstituted, hydrocarbons--examples are polyolefins,such as polypropylene, and polyesters, such as polyethyleneterepthalate.

T_(g) : (glass transition) temperature at which the plastic changes froma glassy state to a rubbery state. Molding operations are invariablycarried out substantially above T_(g) --generally at temperatures atleast 100° F. in excess. Preferred embodiments herein which depend uponbiaxial orientation are carried out with the plastic in the rubberystate but over a lower range, generally within 100° F. of T_(g).

Molding: that category of procedures in which plastic material is causedto flow into the interstices of the mold to result in a formed objectwhich becomes rigid upon cooling.

Preform: (occasionally referred to as parison) the molded form which, inthe procedures of the invention, is formed preliminary to expansion toproduce the final object and, therefore, a form somewhat smaller thanthat of the final object. As generally contemplated, the preform isproduced with the plastic at an elevated temperature in excess of 100°F. above T_(g).

Extrusion molding: that molding procedure generally utilized to producethe preform or parison. In the usual commercial process, plasticmaterials introduced as particulate matter by a screw or ram with orwithout external heating is brought to elevated temperature so that itis introduced as a flowing plastic under pressure through a die toproduce the preform.

Injection molding: that molding procedure generally utilized to producethe preform. In the usual commercial process, plastic materialsintroduced as particulate matter by a screw or ram with or withoutexternal heating is brought to elevated temperature so that it isintroduced as a flowing plastic under pressure into a mold to producethe preform. Connecting passages known as runners are common.

Compression or Transfer molding: One of the more common alternatives toinjection molding to produce the handle in which a mass of plastic isheated and is introduced into a mold portion. Whereafter, an additionalmold portion, such as a plunger, distorts the mass to cause it toconform, again, with the interstices of the now completed mold.

Blow molding: This term contemplates expansion of the preform to itsfinal configuration by the use of gas under pressure. This requires useof a blow mold. As practiced in the past, no effort was made to changethe temperature of the preformed plastic before or during the blowingoperation. Some reduction in temperature naturally results from contactwith the preform mold.

Stretch blow molding: Blow molding in which the preform is stretchedoften by means of an inserted plunger prior to blowing. The procedure isrecognized as advantageously practiced with the plastic material withina temperature range close to but above T_(g) so as to result inextension of the polymer molecules from their natural state to anextended state with the major molecular axis as resolved lying in thedirection of stretch. Blowing is carried out within the same temperaturerange designed to result in retained orientation and producesorientation in the blow direction so that the resulting finalconfiguration is "biaxially oriented".

The invention in its broader aspect is not limited to the specificdescribed embodiments and departures may be made therefrom within thescope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principalsof the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What is claimed is:
 1. A bottle having a neck portion, a sidewall and alifting, carrying and pouring handle attached thereto, wherein saidhandle generally is L-shaped and is positioned substantially within thebreadth of the bottle, and includes a generally horizontal leg attachedto said neck portion, and a generally vertical leg in engagement withthe sidewall of the bottle which has been flexed outwardly to place saidhandle under tension and to maintain said generally vertical leg inengagement with the sidewall of the bottle during lifting, carrying andpouring.
 2. The bottle of claim 1, wherein the sidewall of the bottlehas a depression therein spaced below the neck portion thereof wheresaid horizontal leg of said handle is attached thereto, and wherein thefree end of said vertical leg is inserted and maintained.
 3. The bottleof claim 1, wherein the neck portion of the bottle has a plurality ofdepressions therein, and the free end of said horizontal leg of saidhandle includes projections which are inserted into said neckdepressions to lock said handle thereto.
 4. The bottle of claim 1,wherein the neck portion of the bottle and the free end of saidhorizontal leg of said handle include projections thereon which engageone another to lock said handle thereto.
 5. A bottle and a handle forgripping, carrying and pouring which is attached thereto, wherein thebottle includes a relatively narrow neck portion having integral meansthereon which restricts movement of the attached handle about theperimeter of the bottle, and a sidewall extending from said neck portionhaving integral attachment means thereon, and wherein the handle is aseparate one-piece plastic molded member which is positionedsubstantially within the breadth of the bottle, and includes asubstantially horizontal portion having a free end which at leastpartially encircles and coacts with integral means on said neck portionto affix said horizontal portion thereto and to restrict movementthereof about the perimeter of the bottle, and a substantially verticalportion that has attachment means thereon which coact with said integralattachment means on said sidewall of the bottle for affixing saidportion thereto.
 6. The bottle and handle of claim 5, wherein saidbottle and said handle have means thereon for properly aligning saidhandle on said bottle.
 7. The bottle and handle of claim 6, wherein saidpositioning means includes a notch in said neck portion in alignmentwith said attachment means on said sidewall of the bottle, and aprojection on said free end of said substantially horizontal portionadapted to engage said notch for aligning said handle on the bottleimmediately prior to attachment thereto.
 8. A bottle and a handle forgripping, carrying and pouring which is attached thereto, wherein thebottle includes a relatively narrow neck portion and a sidewallextending from said neck portion having integral attachment meansthereon which restricts movement of the attached handle about theperimeter of the bottle, and wherein the handle is a separate one-pieceplastic molded member which is positioned substantially within thebreadth of the bottle, and includes a substantially horizontal portionhaving a free end which at least partially encircles and coacts withsaid neck portion to affix said horizontal portion thereto, and asubstantially vertical portion that has attachment means thereon whichcoact with said integral attachment means on said sidewall of the bottlefor affixing said portion thereto and for restricting its movement aboutthe perimeter of the bottle.
 9. The bottle and handle of claim 5 or 8,wherein said attachment means on said substantially vertical portion ofsaid handle and on said sidewall of the bottle are interlocking means.10. The bottle and handle of claim 5 or 8, wherein the free end of saidsubstantially horizontal portion of said handle includes a captivebottle closure attached thereto by a plastic hinge which permits closingand opening of the bottle while said closure is attached to said leg.11. The bottle and handle of claim 5 or 8, wherein said neck portion hasa neck ring, and said substantially horizontal portion of said handlehas a bore therethrough at its free end in which there is an annularshoulder adapted to be snap fitted onto said neck ring to lock saidhorizontal leg thereto.
 12. The bottle and handle of claim 5 or 8,wherein said attachment means on said bottle sidewall is a projectionadapted to be in engagement with said substantially vertical portion ofsaid handle to affix said handle thereto.
 13. The bottle and handle ofclaim 5 or 8, wherein said attachment means on said bottle sidewall is alug, and wherein said substantially vertical portion of said handle hasprojections which engage sides of said lug to lock said handle thereto.14. The bottle and handle of claim 5 or 8, wherein said substantiallyvertical portion of said handle includes a wafer thin member extendingtherefrom adapted to be bonded to said attachment means on said sidewallof the bottle to affix said handle thereto.
 15. The bottle and handle ofclaims 5 or 8, wherein said handle is formed from the same thermoplasticmaterial as said bottle.
 16. The bottle and handle of claims 5 or 8,wherein said handle is made from a material which is dissimilar from thethermoplastic material of said bottle.
 17. The bottle and handle ofclaim 5 or 8, wherein said attachment means on said substantiallyvertical portion of said handle and on said sidewall of the bottle aresnap fitting means.
 18. The bottle and handle of claim 5 or 8, whereinsaid attachment means on said substantially vertical portion of saidhandle and on said sidewall of the bottle are bonding means.
 19. Thebottle and handle of claim 5 or 8, wherein said attachment means on saidsubstantially vertical portion of said handle and on said sidewall ofthe bottle are welding means.
 20. The bottle and handle of claim 5 or 8,wherein said attachment means on said substantially vertical portion ofsaid handle and on said sidewall of the bottle are adhesive means. 21.The bottle and handle of claims 5 or 8, wherein the free end of saidhorizontal portion of the handle includes a plastic bottle closuretemporarily connected thereto, and wherein said closure is secured onsaid neck portion prior to affixing said horizontal portion of thehandle thereto, to thereby break the temporary connection therebetween.22. A bottle and a handle for gripping, carrying and pouring which isattached thereto, wherein the bottle is formed from a thermoplasticmaterial and includes a relatively narrow neck portion having integralmeans thereon which restricts movement of the attached handle about theperimeter of the bottle, and a sidewall extending from said neck portionhaving integral attachment means thereon, and wherein the handle is aseparate one-piece plastic molded member which is positionedsubstantially within the breadth of the bottle, and includes asubstantially horizontal portion having a free end which at leastpartially encircles and coacts with integral means on said neck portionto affix said horizontal portion thereto and to restrict movementthereof about the perimeter of the bottle, and a substantially verticalportion that has attachment means thereon which coact with said integralattachment means on said sidewall of the bottle for affixing saidportion thereto.
 23. The bottle and handle of claims 5 or 22, whereinsaid substantially vertical portion of said handle is flexed inwardlytoward the bottle to place said handle under compression when saidattachment means thereon coact with said integral attachment means onsaid sidewall of the bottle to affix said bottle thereto.
 24. A bottleand a handle for gripping, carrying and pouring which is attachedthereto, wherein the bottle is formed from a thermoplastic material andincludes a relatively narrow neck portion and a sidewall extending fromsaid neck portion having integral attachment means thereon whichrestricts movement of the attached handle about the perimeter of thebottle, and wherein the handle is a separate one-piece plastic moldedmember which is positioned substantially within the breadth of thebottle, and includes a substantially horizontal portion having a freeend which at least partially encircles and coacts with said neck portionto affix said horizontal portion thereto, and a substantially verticalportion that has attachment means thereon which coact with said integralattachment means on said sidewall of the bottle for affixing saidportion thereto and for restricting its movement about the perimeter ofthe bottle.
 25. The bottle and handle of claim 22 or 24, wherein saidhandle includes flexing means therein which allow flexing thereof forattachment to the bottle and to accommodate dimensional changes when theportion of the bottle adjacent the bottle handle is under internalpressure.
 26. The bottle and handle of claims 22 or 24, wherein saidbottle is formed from a biaxially oriented thermoplastic polymericmaterial for containing carbonated beverages.
 27. The bottle and handleof claims 22 or 24, wherein said bottle is formed from a biaxiallyoriented thermoplastic material selected from the group consisting ofpolypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate andacrylonitrile.
 28. The bottle and handle of claims 22 or 24, whereinsaid bottle is formed from biaxially oriented polypropylene and is usedfor containing carbonated beverages.
 29. A plastic bottle having arelatively narrow neck portion, and a sidewall extending from said neckportion; and a handle which generally is L-shaped and is positionedsubstantially within the breadth of the bottle and which includes asubstantially horizontal leg having a free end that coacts with saidneck portion to affix said horizontal leg thereto, and a substantiallyvertical leg having a free lower end, wherein said lower free end andsaid sidewall include engaging wedge and recess means adapted to coactto affix said vertical leg to said sidewall, and wherein said handle isaffixed to the bottle for lifting, carrying and pouring therefrom.
 30. Aplastic bottle having a relatively narrow neck portion, a sidewallextending from said neck portion, and opposing engageable depressions insaid sidewall; and a handle which generally is L-shaped and ispositioned substantially within the breadth of the bottle and whichincludes a substantially horizontal leg having yoke-shaped resilientarms with inwardly extending projections which engage said depressionsto lock said leg thereto, and a substantially vertical leg having a freelower end, wherein said lower free end and said sidewall having engaginglocking means to affix said vertical leg to said sidewall, and whereinsaid handle is attached to the bottle for lifting, carrying and pouringtherefrom.
 31. In a process for assembling a bottle and a handleattached thereto for lifting, carrying and pouring wherein the handlegenerally is L-shaped and is positioned substantially within the breadthof the bottle with one leg coacting with and affixed to the neck of thebottle and with the other leg maintained in engagement with the sidewallof the bottle, and wherein the bottle and handle have means thereon forproperly aligning the handle on the bottle, the steps comprisingbringing said bottle and handle into contact with one another androtating one relative to the other until the aligning means are broughtinto engagement, whereupon said handle is attached to said bottle inproper alignment.
 32. In a process for assembling a bottle and a handleattached thereto for lifting, carrying and pouring, wherein the bottleincludes a neck portion and a sidewall, and wherein the handle generallyis L-shaped and is positioned substantially within the breadth of thebottle, and has a generally horizontal leg attached to said neckportion, and a generally outwardly flexed vertical leg in engagementwith the sidewall of the bottle which places said handle under tension,the steps comprising bringing said horizontal leg into contact with theneck portion, concurrently flexing said vertical leg outwardly andattaching said horizontal leg to the neck portion to place the handleunder tension, and engaging said flexed vertical leg to the sidewall ofthe bottle.